Thomas H. Durand, originally from New York City, is a graduate of the Museum School of Fine Arts and an active painter, photographer and artist’s advocate in the Boston area. In addition to producing his own work, Thomas curates shows at JP Licks‚ public art locations, and sits on the board of Jamaica Plain Arts Council.The sock monkey doll became Thomas’ photographic subject after a particularly personal time of crisis. At the time these, hand made, depression-era dolls were perfect figures to express the seemingly never-ending, raw emotions he was experiencing. Thomas’ images are simultaneously playful, hopeful and even comforting. Between the images, their titles and the human experiences they evoke, there are often multiple ways of entering and engaging his work that bring tears to some and laughter to others. “My inspirations come from many places, which incorporate my thoughts on the human condition generally - on religion, nature, music, art history, American icons, social and current issues in addition to my own emotional demons and delights.”